Valve for automatic fire-extinguishers.



No. 791,790. I I PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

J. HUNT. I I VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHERS.

APPLIOATION FILED JAN. 30, 1904x RENEWED APR. 24,1905.

2 BHEETSSHEBT 1.

Q SHBETSr-SHBET 2.

PATENTED JUNE 6; 1905.

J. HUNT.

I h'zn e .55 as UNITED STATES.

Patented .Tune 6, 1905.

JARVIS HUNT, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PHOENIX FIRE EXTINGUISHER00., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION NEW JERSEY.

VALVE FOR AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHERS- SPECIFICATION forming part ofLetters Patent No. 791,790, dated June 6, 1905. Application filedJanuary 30, 1904. Renewed April 24, 1905. Serial No. 257,098.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J ARVIS HUNT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for AutomaticFire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to what is known as the main valve ofadry-pipe automatic fire-extinguishing system. The general constructionand mode of operation of such a system are well understood and need notbe set forth at length in this specification.

Broadly stated, the object of the invention is to provide a valve ofsimple construction and one which shall at-the same time have a highefficiency and be free from all liability to failure when once it iscalled into action.

More particularly stated, the objects of the invention are to provide avalve, first, that is sure to operate and admit water to the system upona reduction of the air-pressure therein to a predetermined point;second, that when 7 that cannot possibly become columned, and,

fourth, that'reduces the injurious effect of water-hammer to a minimum.

The accomplishing of the first-stated object is due to the generalconstruction of the valve device, as hereinafter fully described.

I accomplish the second-stated object by constructing the mainwater-valve or cut-off with two faces presented in oppositedirectionsone upward and the other downward and providing for each ofthese faces a seat of such construction that whether the valve contactswith the one or the other the pressure upon it will hold it seated. Inother words, the main water-valve has exposed differential areas soproportioned and related that while closed and under normal conditionsit will be held closed by the combined pressure of the air and waterwithin the system and when once fully opened it will with equalcertainty be held open, so as to prevent its reseating.

The accomplishing of the third-stated object is duein a large measure tothe conditions last above suggested, since it is apparent that the mainwater-valve cannot possibly become columned if when once fully unseatedit is prevented from reseating. The system then becomes a wet-pipesystem. 7

I accomplish the fourth-stated object by exposing oppositely-presentedsurfaces of differential valves or cut-offs to the pressure of the waterin the main or supply pipe, so that the hammer in one direction opposesand balances or approximately balances the hammer in the oppositedirection, leaving to the pressure of the air in the system only theduty of overcoming the preponderance or differential of the pressure ofthe water on the valves.

. It may here be stated that. the use of con-' centric valve-seats withintermediate chambers maintained at low or atmospheric pressure conducesto the eificiency of the improved valve, although I am aware that such jchambers, broadly considered, are not new. I believe, however, that oneof my proposed uses of such a chamber is absolutely newthat is to say, Ibelieve that I am the first to suggest the use of. alow-pressure'chamber so arranged as to give the water-pressure againstthe main water-valve an advantage and enable I it I to hold said valveopen when once unseated,

and thus absolutely and positively prevent the columning when once thevalve fully is unseated. Theinvention consists in the features ofnovelty that are hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, which are made a part of this specification, andin which Figures 1 and 2 arevertical central sections of a valveembodying the invention, the cutting planes being at right angles toeach other. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of a relief-valve.

The construction of the casing is immaterial further than that it shallhave the features necessary for the carrying out of the invention asherein defined.

The outer shell A may be formed in two parts flanged and bolted togetherat about mid-length. It has an inlet A, adapted for communication with astreet main or other source of water-supply, and an outlet A, adaptedfor communication with the riser of a sprinkler system equipped incustomary manner with sprinkler-heads. The inlet A is surrounded by twoconcentric annular valveseats a and a, andintermediate of thesevalveseats -is a chamber A which is maintained at low or atmosphericpressure. As shown, this chamber communicates, through a drain-pipe awith the atmosphere, and this drain-pipe is provided with a delicatevalve of customary construction (shown in elevation) which will seatwhen subjected to any considerable pressure, but which will remainunseated under atmospheric pressure and thereby maintain the chamber Aat atmospheric pressure.

The main water-valve is shown at B. It blanks the inlet A and overlapsthe valveseat a, the low-pressure chamber A and the outer annularvalve-seat a. It consists of a central disk 6, a flexible annulardiaphragm b, and a surrounding ring or annulus Z2, which is ground toadapt it the valve-seats a and a and which is connected to the diskb bymeans of the flexible annular diaphragm Z). The manner of constructingand connecting these parts is immaterial further than that the valve asa whole should be flexible to allow for inequalities in expansion andcontraction and perform certain functions hereinafter described. Thevalve B (constructed as above or otherwise) is the main watervalve orcutofi'.- It is disposed in a chamber A of the casing, and this chamberis in constant open communication with the distributing-pipes of thesystem through passages A*,

- which lead directly from the chamber A Within the casing is a part C,that may properly be called a dome or a chamber or any other of a numberof appropriate names; but for the sake of distinction it willhereinafter be called a dome. It is connected by a by-pass C with theinlet A, so that its interior is maintained full of water at the samepressure as that in the inlet A or the main. The bottom of this domecommunicates by a port or opening with the chamber A, and this port issurrounded by two concentric valve-seats c and 0, between which is alowpressure chamber C, open to atmosphere. This chamber is preferablyvalved similarly to the chamber A The port between the dome G andchamber A is controlled by a valve D, which in all respects isconstructed similarlyto the valve B, excepting that in its over-alldimensions it is smaller. The valves B and D are connected by a rigidstem E,which preferably consists of three members-to wit, two stems e,projecting from the central disks, respectively, and provided with rightand left threads and a turnbuckle or connecting-sleeve a,correspondingly threaded. No novelty is claimed for this valve-stemconstruction, and a fuller description is therefore not necessary.

The areas of the valves B and as a whole :smeo

are differential-that is to say, the area of the valve B exposed to thepressure of the water in the inlet A (under normal conditions) exceedsthe area of the valve D exposed to the same pressure in the dome C.Hence, waterpressure only being considered, there is a constant tendencyto unseat the valves B and D and admit water to the system; but as aresistance to this tendency, due to the preponderance of water-pressureupward upon the valve B, the preponderance of air-pressure downward uponthe valve B must be taken into consideration. A differential is apparentfrom an inspection of the drawings. The precise ratio of thisdifferential need not be stated and, furthermore, will vary withdifferent conditions in different situations and must be left to thediscretion of the builder. Suflice it to say that a differential isfairly indicated in the drawings and suggested in the foregoingdescription, and the rest must be left to the skill and ordinaryknowledge of the craft. It will be observed, however, that when the mainvalve B fully unseats it will be forced upward until it comes toconcentric annular seats a, with an annular low-pressure chamber Cbetween them. This chamber is normally closed by a valve G whichprevents leakage from the system, but which upon the upward impact ofthe valve B unseats and admits atmospheric pressure to the chamber C. Inthis event the pressure of the water against the under side of the valveB will hold it up. Thus it is columned unseated rather than seated.Another factor tending to unseat the valves B and D is the suctionproduced by the water rushing past the lower end of the hy-pass C. Thisis designed to create a suction which will tend to exhaust the waterfrom the dome C, with a consequent tendency to lift the valve D from itsseat and when once unseated thereafter hold it unseated. To this end thelower end of the by-pass and the inlet A are so proportioned andarranged as to act upon the principle of an ordinary injector, (orejector.) The flexibility of the valves B and 1), due to the diaphragmsincorporated in them, will fully compensate for inaccuracies in thedistance apart of their respective seats and inequalities in expansionand contraction of the several parts of the valve device as a whole.

Preferably the top side of the valve B is provided with flexibleseating-surfaces for contact with the concentric annular seats 0 and cAnother feature of this valve is that in addition to the pressure of thewater against the under side of the main water-valve tending first tounseat it and then to hold it unseated and in contact with the annularseats a and a the flow of the water past the lower end of the by-pass Gproduces a suction that augments both of these actionsz'. a, theunseating of the valve and holding it unseated. It

is manifest that with the parts arranged shown a current of water movingswiftly past the lower end of the by-pass will act upon the principle ofan ejector and exhaust the water from the dome C. This will in turn actwith a suction upon the top of the valve D and tend to unseatthe twovalves. Furthermore, when fully open and the valve B is upon the seats 0and 0 this same suction will'tend to hold it there. These things will ofcourse depend upon the velocity with which the'water passes Y the lowerend of the by-pass.

The passage between the annular low-pressure chamber 0 and theatmosphere is controlled by a valve 0 which is preferably so constructedand arranged that it is tripped automatically by the valve B as thelatter comes to its seats 0 0 Certain novel features that are hereinshown and described are not herein claimed, but are claimed in myapplication of even date herewith. bearing Serial No. 191,317.Generically stated, the novel features here referred to relate to thecombination'of a casing having a chamber and provided with two portsopening thereinto for the admission of water and a port openingtherefrom for the escape of water to the system, two valves forcontrolling the water-inlet ports, one of said valves seating with andthe other against the waterpressure, intervening mechanism whereby thevalves oppose each other with a counterbalancing effect, thepreponderance of waterpressure being in favor of the valve seatingagainst the water-pressure, and means controlled by the pressure in thesystem for overcoming said preponderance of water-pressure and holdingthe valves firmly seated, whereby when the pressure in the system isreduced the pressure of the water will automatically unseat the valves.

What I claim as new is 1. In adevice of the class described, thecombination with a casing having an inlet for water, a chamber incommunication with the system into which said inlet opens, a valve forcontrolling said inlet and concentric annular valve-seats for recelvlngthe valve when open,

the space bounded by the valve-seats being in communication with theatmosphere through a valved opening, substantially as described.

2. In adevice of the class described, the combination with a casinghaving an inlet for water, a valve for controlling said inlet, a chambercontaining said valve, and in communication with the system, concentricannular valve-seats adapted to receive the valve when open, and meansfor maintaining low pressure between the annular valve-seats when thevalve is seated upon them, substantially as described.

3. In a device of the class described,the combination with a casinghaving a chamber com- 1. In a device of the class described,thecombination with the casing having an air-chamber in communication withthe system,a waterinlet opening into said air-chamber, annularvalve-seats surrounding said inlet, a low-pressure chamber intermediateof said valve-seats, a chamber in communication with the waters'upplyand having a port opening into the airchamber, annular valve-seatssurrounding said port, and a low-pressure chamber intermediate of saidvalve-seats, of connected differential valves adapted to said seats, andexposed to both the water -pressure and the air-pressure, substantiallyas described.

5. In a device of the class described,the combination with a casinghaving an air-chamber communicating with the system, a waterinletopening thereinto, a water-chamber having a port opening into theair-chamber, and a by-pass connecting the water-chamber with thewater-supply, of a main water-valve for controlling the inlet, andhaving differential areas exposed to the water and air pressure, asmaller valve for controlling said port and having differential areasexposed to the water and air pressure and a stem connecting the twovalves, the casing being provided also with annular valve-seatssurrounding the port and adapted to receive the main water-valve whenopened, and with a valved low-pressure chamber between said seats,substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class described,the combination with a casinghaving an air-chamber, a water-inlet opening thereinto, and awater-chamber having a port communicating with said air-chamber, ,of aby-pass connecting said water-chamber with the waterway and arranged toact as an ejector for exhausting water from said water-chamber, andconnected valves for normally closing said water-inlet JARVIS HUNT.

Witnesses:

W. E. KLEINPELL, Y

L. M. HOPKINS.

